This hearty dish of tender apple cream braised cabbage is inspired by the region of Rohan from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings.
A Feast in rohan – inspired by the lord of the rings
Let us travel to Middle Earth, crossing the Fords of Isen at the Gap of Rohan, for a feast with the Rohirrim. A feast in the great Northern kingdom of men is imbued with the courage and nobility of its people and their deep connection to the land. Gather in the Golden Hall of Meduseld, seat of the King in the city of Edoras, to sing songs of great battles and heroic deeds while feasting.
To create recipes worthy of the horse-lords, we take inspiration from the ancient cultures that influenced Tolkien’s vision of Rohan to the geographical region of Rohan itself.
The humble cabbage
Tolkien’s inspiration for Rohan was taken primarily from the Anglo-Saxon and Northern European Germanic cultures. This hearty vegetable side dish makes use of produce native to a northern European climate. Slowly braising the cabbage in cream creates a tender, buttery texture and brings out the natural sweetness in the cabbage. Apples add sweetness while the bacon brings a savoury, salty component to the dish. This cream braised cabbage turns the humble cabbage into a truly decadent dish worthy for the feast tables of King Theoden of Rohan.
Ingredient notes
Cabbage: I like using green cabbage for this recipe. Trim the outer layers but leave the core intact. Cut into 8 wedges.
Cream: Use heavy whipping cream.
Apples: This recipe uses both apple juice and sliced apples. I used gala apples, but you could use any type of apple that you prefer.
Bacon: Bacon adds a nice salty component to this dish but it could be omitted to make it vegetarian instead.
How to make Apple Cream Braised Cabbage
Prep the ingredients
In a non-stick skillet, sauté the bacon over medium heat until browned and crispy. Use a slotted spoon to remove the bacon from the skillet. Pour off some of the bacon fat leaving about a tablespoon in the pan. Add the cabbage wedges to the pan and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until the cabbage lightly browns.
Braise the cabbage
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 13″ x 9″ baking dish. Arrange the cabbage wedges in the baking dish, overlapping slightly if necessary. Scatter the apple slices around the cabbage wedges.
In a small bowl, combine the apple juice, grainy mustard, and kosher salt. Whisk together until combined. Add the cream and whisk together. Pour the cream mixture over the cabbage and apples and sprinkle with the bacon pieces.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes. Take the cabbage out every 15 minutes or so and spoon the cream mixture over the cabbage and apples to prevent the tops from drying out.
Serve the Apple Cream Braised Cabbage
Braise the cabbage until it is tender and the liquid has reduced. Enjoy!
